R Biographies

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#006699" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="057285a1erlcgo.png"> <div> <B>VP-21 & VPB-111 Veterans Association</B></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=150 BGCOLOR="#FFCC66" TEXT="#080000" background="056d4c00dkelyh.png"> <div> <A HREF="http://www.vp-21.org/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.vp-21.org/"><U><B><U>Home</U></B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Biographies/Profiles"><U><B><U>Back to Biogaphies Main Page</U></B></U></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B><U> <A NAME="_r__biographies"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></U></B><B><U>(R) Biographies</U></B></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <A HREF="#robert__bob__rhoads" TITLE="R Biographies"><U>Rhoads, Robert</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="#roinestad_norman" TITLE="R Biographies"><U>Roinestad, Norman</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="#henry_j__rosler" TITLE="R Biographies"><U>Rosler, Henry J.</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="#red_ruch" TITLE="R Biographies"><U>Ruch, George 'Red'</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="#george__bud__rushe" TITLE="R Biographies"><U>Rushe, George E. 'Bud'</U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B><U> <A NAME="roinestad_norman"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></U></B><B><U>Roinestad, Norman</U></B></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B><U> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="699" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 322 ><NOBR><div> <B><U><IMG SRC="1ded0fa0.jpg" border=0 width="208" height="250" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></B></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="152" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 38 WIDTH="146"><div> Norm, Lakehurst, NJ 1948 (age 17) </div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="196"><div>         <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B><U><IMG SRC="1e0b6fa0.jpg" border=0 width="182" height="250" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></B></FONT></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="152" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 ><NOBR><div> Pat & Norm, 2001</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <B><U><IMG SRC="1e20afa0.jpg" border=0 width="266" height="250" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></B></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="287" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 ><NOBR><div> Norm & Great Grandson, Dakota (Cody)</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></U></B></div> <bR> <div> I enlisted March of 1948, 10 days after my 17th birthday, (either that or reform school). It was to be a 3 year hitch, but Pres. Truman extended me for a year for Korea. So I shipped for six.</div> <div>  </div> <div> My first duty station was NAS Lakehurst NJ, HU-2, after 2 years at the country club I went aboard the USS Saipan CVL-48, for 11 months 26 day and 4 hours. In June of 1951 I reported aboard VP-34, Trinidad, BWI. While I was in VP-34, I earned my Combat Air Crew wings. Then in June of 1953, I transferred to VP-21 where I spent four wonderful years. From there to VP-10 for one year. From there to NAF Naples Italy for two years. July of 63 found me at my one and only shore duty station, NAS Glenview IL. after Glenview, off to AO 'B' school for six months in Jacksonville, FL. From there to the "Oldest and the Boldest" the USS Essex CV-9 for three and 1/2 years. </div> <bR> <div> My Last tour of duty was back to VP-21, where I retired with 19 and 6, with good conduct, at 36 1/2 years old. </div> <div> I had a great time serving my country receiving six letters of commendation, and seven meritorious awards. But my greatest honor was receiving my CAC Wings. </div> <bR> <div> Resectfully Submiited,</div> <div> Norman J. Roinestad AO1, CAC USN Ret. </div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="#_r__biographies" TITLE="R Biographies"><U><U>Back to </U></U></A><A HREF="#_r__biographies" TITLE="R Biographies"><U><U>Top of Page</U></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <U> <A NAME="henry_j__rosler"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></U><U>Henry J. Rosler</U></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <U><IMG SRC="222bbfa0.jpg" border=0 width="187" height="250" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></div> <div> <U> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="181" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 18 ><NOBR><div> Henry J. Rosler, 1999</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></U></div> <bR> <div> I was born in Alliance, OH, in October of 1918, and entered the United States Naval Service in July of 1940. I  was assigned the service number of 368-49-71, and went to  Bootcamp in San Diego. After bootcamp I was assigned to the the Cruiser Concord. We took the Concord to Mare Island, CA and rebuilt her interrior. Thereafter we did patrol and convoy protection duty in the Pacific. I was a Seaman First Class.</div> <bR> <div> Struck for and received  assignment to Aviation Mechanics school in Jacksonville, FL. I graduated 8th. in my class on 6 December, 1941 - the day before Pearl Harbor was attacked.  From school I went to the JAX training command into VN-11B, then on to VN-11A at Cecil Field. From there to Lake City, FL for PV-1 training. Sometime in 1943 I was transferred to Norfolk for PB4Y-1 training. After PB4Y-1 training  I went next door to Oceana NAS for Aircrew training.</div> <bR> <div> I became a Plane Captain under Patrol Plane Commander A.M. Ellingson. In due time our crew reported for duty at Port Lyautey,  French Morocco, where we did Patrol duty in the Mediterranean. </div> <bR> <div> In 1944 we were ordered to San Diego then on to Kaneohe Bay where we traded our old PB4Y-1 for a brand new one (BuNo 38913). We then departed for duty on Tinian, Tacloban,<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#BF0000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>Mindoro, and Palawan, P.I. for patrol of the Pacific. We were a crew until some time in 1945 when we were relieved on Palawan. The day after we were relieved, our aircraft, BuNo 38913, and its new crew disappeared while on patrol. From VPB-111 I went to Yorktown, VA and was assigned duty aboard the USS Tarawa.</div> <bR> <div> I left the Navy in July of 1946 with the rating of ACMM-PA. As of this writing, (6/4/03) and to my knowledge,  Harvey Cain and I are the last surviving members of CAC 8, VPB-111. Harvey operated the tail guns on our PB4Y-1.</div> <bR> <div> Married Bernice in 1953, a Chicago girl, and have a daughter, Ann Marie, who teaches school in Columbia, MO. Worked 14 years for United Airlines  as a line mechanic, then as an inspector, at Midway Airport in Chicago, Il. In 1960 I went to work for the FAA as an inspector in St. Louis, MO., and retired from there in 1985 after 25 years service.</div> <bR> <div> Since retirement I have been active in church and charity works here in Hazelwood, MO.</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="#_r__biographies" TITLE="R Biographies"><U><U>Back to Top of Page</U></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <U> <A NAME="red_ruch"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></U><U>'</U><U>Red' George Ruch</U></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <U> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="968" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 256 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="267b0fa0.jpg" border=0 width="176" height="250" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="269f2fa0.jpg" border=0 width="242" height="250" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="26b61fa0.jpg" border=0 width="353" height="250" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="26daafa0.jpg" border=0 width="170" height="250" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 35 ><NOBR><div> 1948, Twenty years old</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="228"><div> ~1949, First Goody Bars</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> 1968, Last Shipover, NWEF, Kirtland AFB, NM</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="184"><div> 1973, The Real Estate Salesman</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></U></div> <bR> <div> I graduated from Atlantic Highlands High School NJ in early June 1947 and was sworn into the US Navy on July 3rd., 1947 at 90 Church St. in NYC. That night we were bound for the NTC at Great Lakes on one of the crack New York Central trains headed for Chicago. The dining car supervisor was in the Navy during the war and he took pity on us with our 75 cent meal tickets and fed us like Kings.</div> <bR> <div> Was in Boot Company 60/47 at Camp Downs until Sept 1947. Went on Boot leave and returned to Great Lakes, and transferred to the Receiving Station, Philadelphia. Orders posted for VF-10A. What kind of ship is that I ask? I wanted to be a Shipfitter on a Tin Can. Ended up at NAAS Charlestown RI in CAG 9 assigned to the USS Philippine Sea (CV47) with F8F-1 Bearcats. Made the USS Philippine Sea's first Med cruise. Subsequent organization of the CAG, I ended up in VF-93 and F8F-2's where I learned to safety wire. The cylinders were stretching from the hold down bolts and the pal nuts and had to be safety wired. Nice job for a young airman.</div> <bR> <div> Made short cruises on the USS Leyte (CV32), USS Kearsarge (CV33) and the FDR (CVB42). After two years of dodging props on the flight deck and  almost getting killed once or twice, an opportunity came for transfer to VP-21 at Patuxent River, MD. And I jumped on it.</div> <bR> <div> VP-21 still had the PB4Y2s and I ended up as a second wiper and was truly indoctrinated by the senior people by opening the bomb bay door while passing chow up the flight deck and turning the hydraulic pressure off in the blister turrets and dumping. You, thought you were falling out of the aircraft.</div> <bR> <div> We finally received the P4M's and I was a crew member on the 22 hour endurance flight, flying between Norfolk and Baltimore. Still had an hour's worth of gas left. Went on the Port Lyautey deployment and the Londonderry ASW School in Ireland. We were the last squadron to use tents as quarters. Three years went fast, orders for shore duty, NAS Anacostia, DC, ended up on the VIP line, flying Cabinet members, SEC Nav, Sec Defense and Flag officers all over the country in the new R4D8Z, square tailed R4D with 1820 engines.</div> <bR> <div> Two years of duty went faster, orders for that beautiful Atlantic Ocean paradise Lajes, Fasron 106 DET 1. 18 months felt like an eternity, orders for VR-6 at McGuire AFB in NJ. Worked in the nose docks and EBU. Qualified as a R6D (C1 18) flight engineer. Eventually all right crews transferred to VR-3 at McGuire. Many trips all over the world.</div> <bR> <div> Orders to Navy Transport Training Unit at Tinker AFB, Oklahoma as a C118 flight and simulator instructor. That's where I learned I like the West, two years and back to McGuire and VR-3 for C130 transition.</div> <bR> <div> Received my C130 training with the 76ATS at Charleston AFB, SC, all over the world with the Herky Bird and many WEST Pac trips to Viet Nam. Four years of good duty came to an end when the Navy was decomissioned from the Military Air lift command in June of 1967. Transferred to Naval Weapons Evaluation Facility, Kirkland AFB, Albuquerque, NM. Qualified on R5D (C54) BuNo 50955, a Berlin air lift bird. Some say it still had coal dust in the belly. A replacement came in R6D (C118) BuNo 131569. I made my first trip to Europe on this MC when I was at McGuire. We received it from VR-21.Orders came in for Keflavik, Agana, or Barking Sands. Time to throw the anchor out. </div> <bR> <div> Retired in July of 1973 with 26 years as an ADRC(AC) and 10,000 hours pushing throttles. Married 48 years, two sons, daughter, 9 grand kids and one great grand child. Taking life easy, but have some serious health problems, so I sit on the West bank of the almost dry Rio Grande in Rio Rancho, NM… right next to Albuquerque hoping for more water so we can get the submarine races going again.</div> <bR> <div> Red Ruch</div> <div> 27 October 2003</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="498" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 170 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="284faa40.jpg" border=0 width="250" height="164" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="286fa9e0.jpg" border=0 width="250" height="158" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <A HREF="#_r__biographies" TITLE="R Biographies"><U><U>Back to Top of Page</U></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <B><U> <A NAME="robert__bob__rhoads"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></U></B><B><U>Robert (BOB) Rhoads</U></B></div> <bR> <div> Born in Hamburg, PA. Joined the navy in November 1950, on a so called kiddie cruise. Was sworn in Nov 1 and went to Newport Rhode Island for Boot camp. Was shipped to P (Patuxent) river and VP-21 in Feb 1951. Boot camp was shortened a couple of weeks because of the Korean War. Served in VP-21 at P River until the squadron was transferred to Brunswick. Worked on the P4M ,which I thought was a great airplane, and then when we got the P2V-6, and the engine problems, and the strut leaks, I didn't think much of Lockheed airplanes.</div> <div>  </div> <div> Deployed to Port Layautey in Sept of 51 and then back to P River and deployed again to Malta in 53. Worked the whole time in the Hydraulic shop of the Metalsmith Division, with short trips to work in commisary and as barracks cleaner and mess cook. As an AN those duties fell to us young people. When the squadron was deployed again in june of 54, I and a bunch of short timers were left behind at Brunswick. I was discharged two months early in August 54, because of the need for the navy to downsize. I don't remember much about Brunswick except the great brunches they used to have on Sunday mornings, and the fact they used to serve lobsters on some evening meals. </div> <bR> <div> When I went back home to Pa I Married a girl I went to school with all my life. Marian and I had our first little girl in Sept of 56 and in May of 57 I moved to Miami Fla. to attend Embry Riddle to get my A&P license. Nov of 58, I went to work with Delta Airlines as a Line Mechanic in Chicago, at Midway airport. I worked in Chicago till 62 when I transferred to Philadelphia and then transferred to Phoenix in 1970. I retired from Delta in Phoenix in 1990 after 31 yrs, at the age of 56 as a line leader. </div> <bR> <div> I have three daughters that have rewarded me with a grandson and three grandaughters and one on the way. </div> <div> Marian and I are in reasonable health and hope to stay that way for a while longer. </div> <bR> <div> Robert (BOB) Rhoads </div> <div> Phoenix Ariz.</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="#_r__biographies" TITLE="R Biographies"><U><U>Back to Top of Page</U></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <U> <A NAME="george__bud__rushe"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></U><U>George E. 'Bud' Rushe</U></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="2ae0e900.jpg" border=0 width="270" height="400" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="5" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Arrived in VP-21 in late June, 1951. Sent to Base Radio and was there until Squadron deployed to Port Lyeauty in September. Went overseas on Carrier USS Leyte and was assigned to HC-8 as 2nd Radio on arrival. Harold Ludlam ALC was 1st radio. Ens. Mahan Pilot. Got my crow in June 1952. Was assigned as 1st radio on HC-5. Lt Blair. Later returned to HC-8 as 1st radio. Refused extension for Malta deployment and was assigned  back to Base Radio. Discharged thru Anacostia in August 1953. </div> <bR> <div> Went to work for US Steel in Naval Ordinance Plant in South Charleston W.Va. until they closed a year later. Left there and went to Gary IN. and worked for Youngstown Sheet & Tube. Completed Electrical Apprenticeship. Left there in 1961 to work for a new Steel Plant in Portage IN. Midwest Steel Co.a division of National Steel Corp. in 1961. Was promoted to Maintenance Supervisor in 1966. After </div> <bR> <div> 17 years, was hired by Kaiser Steel in Fontana CA, as a Maintenance Supervisor, and they closed after 4  years. Was hired by Mica Corp. of Culver City CA. Later bought out by Hecules Corp. of Wilmington Del. Was there for  7 years as Maintenance Supervisor, ending up as Superintendent of Maintenance. Hercules closed the plant in 1990. I stayed to complete the removal of equipment until 1991. Was hired by California Finished Metals in Rancho Cucamonga as Superintendent of Maintenance and was there for 7 years before I retired. Have been working off and on for a General Contractor since. Just keeping my hand in. </div> <bR> <div> I also square dance and round dance. And I am presently the President of our Square Dance Club and newly appointed Assistant Director of Bachelor & Bachelorettes International Southern California District..</div> <bR> <div> My wife of 48 years passed away in 1999. I have since met another lady and we are engaged. We are both planning to be at the May 2005 reunion.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> .</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>